Though its exact origins remain uncertain, the Karen meme became widely popular a few years ago among people of color–particularly black Americans–to mock class- and racial-based hostility they often experience.
Recently, social media researcher Jessica Williams spoke with BKC fellow Allissa Richardson and noted the significance of “intertextuality,” particularly during a time when everyday situational racisms are being confronted. She cites an image from June 2020 of a wealthy couple brandishing guns at protesters passing by their home as evidence for its continued relevance today.
Origins
Karen Memes are a recent slang term that has gained momentum online. They refer to middle-aged white women who are perceived as arrogant and entitled. These individuals may ask to speak to the manager, wear certain bob cut hairstyles, and engage in racist micro-aggressions.
Karen Meme has no definitive origin, though some speculate it began on social media. A Reddit user named f***_you_Karen who allegedly took his children and household during divorce proceedings started the r/F—YouKaren subreddit in 2017 which now boasts over 600,000 members dedicated to spreading hatred toward Karen according to Know Your Meme.
Some speculate that the Karen Meme originated online, while others suggest it may simply be a casual slang term that has gained widespread acceptance. One popular meme features a woman wearing a bikini with surgical masks as an act of protest with the tagline: She is a Karen.
This is an intricate slang term that continues to evolve. It is sometimes used to denote women who refuse to wear face masks or get vaccinated against the coronavirus, leading many to question whether it is sexist to use it this way.
Slang terms like “CCV” have become increasingly common over the past few months due to the spread of coronavirus. In some cases, people have even been arrested for not wearing face masks!
Karen Memes are often employed in racist contexts. Critics have accused them of being sexist, ageist and linked to negative perceptions of black women.
Another issue with the Karen Meme is its association with other sexist terms like “Chad” or “Gammon.” These names are typically associated with white men who are seen as unattractive, insecure and selfish; however this isn’t always the case; women have also been known to find themselves in similar predicaments even though they may be younger or less likely to have their name linked to sex.
Context
The origins of the Karen meme remain uncertain, but it could have originated from a satirical subreddit formed in 2017 to poke fun at an ex-wife named Karen who was fictional and stereotypically bossy. Other potential sources include 2005 Dane Cook jokes, Mean Girls’ Karen character and Nintendo’s “antisocial Karen” meme.
Recently, social media users have given white women using their privilege alliterative nicknames such as Barbecue Becky and Golfcart Gail to Permit Patty and Talkback Tammy. Some even created characters named “Karen” on YouTube – making them her alter ego in a series of humorous videos on her channel.
But as the popularity of the meme has spread across social media and mainstream culture, it has become increasingly clear that “Karen” is an offensive racial slur used to demonize a group of White women for their bad-behavior. These individuals tend to act out rudely towards others, often leading to unprovoked encounters with police which put Black and Brown lives at risk.
Recent months have seen an uptick in harassment as the national spotlight has been put on Black Lives Matter protests and racially charged policing. This has resulted in more Karens being called out for being racist or acting inappropriately, such as Amy Cooper who was caught on video asking the police to arrest Christian Cooper when he asked her to curb her dog in Central Park.
Due to their success, Karens are being dubbed the “Karens of 2020”, and for good reason. A simple search on Google will yield an illuminating array of examples showing off this phenomenon.
Karen jokes are often directed at middle-class, White women and seen as an inconvenience to service workers who serve them. This trend has also been connected to a general lack of respect for age and gender in the workplace, leading employers to experience confusion and difficulty when such conduct may be classified as harassment under Illinois and federal law.
Satire
The origins of the Karen meme remain uncertain. Some attribute it to a 2005 Dane Cook joke about groups having one member that no one likes, while others point to a 2017 satirical subreddit about a fictional “Karen” as its inspiration.
The original Karen figure, if we can call it that, was designed to illustrate the arrogant behavior and classism of an entitled white woman. She served as a metaphor for those who felt entitled to power over others and used that position as leverage when they weren’t given what they desired – whether that meant free ice cream or an improved haircut at the salon.
During the pandemic, many on social media began criticizing others for what they perceived to be Karen-like behavior – from refusing to quarantine themselves to officiously reporting neighbors on sites like Nextdoor. As debate ensued about how much shaming was appropriate during Covid-19, the Karen figure became an all-purpose shorthand for social policing.
However, politicizing Karen has had an unexpected effect on real people named Karen. For instance, one YouTuber who creates humorous “suburban moms” ASMR videos decided to drastically change her Karen character’s attitude in response.
Rachel’s Karen has transformed in her latest installment, becoming a cat-owning lesbian. In an interview with me, Rachel confessed that the original Karen “had so many flaws and things I was trying to make her more realistic” — so now she’s “trying to let it go.”
More significantly, she’s using her new identity to raise awareness of a cause she feels passionate about. She told me her goal is “to speak to other Karens” about ways they can become more aware of the harm they are causing.
Karen serves as a poignant reminder that we must acknowledge our privilege and the ways it allows us to take advantage of others. It is ultimately up to all of us to work towards changing the system and creating a more equitable society.
Racism
The “Karen” meme is a derogatory term used to describe middle-aged white women who act with insensitivity or disrespectfulness, according to Know Your Meme senior editor Emily Greenfield. Recently, several examples of this meme have gone viral, such as an incident in Central Park where a woman named Cooper was photographed threatening Black people with her car.
According to Know Your Meme, there is no proof that the “Karen” meme originated from an actual person’s name. Instead, the term has come to signify a wide range of behaviors such as calling police on Black children’s lemonade stands or refusing to wear masks during coronavirus outbreaks.
Karen was a popular baby name that reached its peak in 1965 in the US. However, linguistic expert and University of Michigan assistant professor of communication and media research Sarah Bindel suggests it may have become more commonly adopted by white women than black women, particularly online. She compares it to “Sharon” or “Tracy,” terms used in the 1980s to refer to younger working-class women in Britain during that era.
But even though the term has been adopted by a broad range of people, there remains an undertone of racial hostility to it, according to Williams – an associate professor of law at the University of Maryland College Park. This hostility often stems from perceived racial inequality within society, Williams noted.
Hostility can lead to a range of legal problems, from discrimination and harassment claims in state or federal court to social media policies prohibiting inappropriate content sharing. To avoid these potential liabilities, educate yourself on the laws that apply in your workplace and take proactive steps to refrain from using inflammatory language that could put your company at risk for lawsuits.
Particularly if the gender or age of your coworkers is an issue. Laws such as the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Age Discrimination in Employment all provide protection to employees against being treated differently due to their gender or age.
